Achi news desk-
JAMMU: Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and HoFF, Roshan Jaggi today chaired the 8th meeting of UT Level Monitoring Committee on Forest Fire Prevention and Control.
The meeting was attended by APCCF Kashmir, CCF Jammu, environmental experts Dr. CM Seth and Nadeem Qadri, and other senior officials from the Forest Department.
During the meeting, the readiness of the Forestry Department to fight against the following fire season in the summer months was reviewed.
The PCCF and HoFF instructed the field officers of the Social Forestry Department, the Wildlife Protection Department and the Forest Protection Police to be very vigilant and fully prepared and respond to fire incidents immediately.
The DFOs were directed to publicize the department’s toll-free numbers to receive direct information about any forest fire. He further said that the fire warnings issued by the Forest Survey of India would be answered on priority and the steps taken to control the fire would be reported by 11 AM every day.
The PCCF reviewed the budgetary provisions to take care of the mobility of men and resources to fight forest fires.
The Chief Wildlife Warden, Sarvesh Rai, emphasized that the joint control rooms work smoothly so that the protected areas are also kept free from fire incidents. He suggested fortnightly meetings by the Block Forest Officers at local level to sensitize all stakeholders and to take stock of the situation.
Dr. suggested. CM Seth, (No. IFS and Environmental Executive Jammu), raised awareness among the rural and urban population through panel discussions and catchy rhymes on the radio and other outreach programs for the next three months of the upcoming fire season.
Nadeem Qadri, (Environmental Lawyer, Srinagar) emphasized the importance of coordination between the departments to prevent forest fires in the protected areas, especially Dachigam National Park.
The PCCF emphasized the importance of immediate response to forest fire incidents during the golden hour which remains essential to prevent forest fires and prevent loss to human life as well as forest resources.
The preparedness of the forest department to prevent forest fires in the Trikuta Hills especially along the Yatra track to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine was also reviewed and necessary instructions were passed on to DFO Reasi to coordinate with the Shrine Board and pool the resources and ensure the yatra free of any unexpected events.
The PCCF emphasized on coordinating with the State Disaster Response Force in all vulnerable areas.
It was decided that the services of the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) and the Fire Services Department would also be used wherever practicable to control the fires.
